4 Pourquoi ce cours est-il important?La recherche est fondamentale au travail d’un avocatEt, encore plus pratique :Il y existe plusieurs opportunités pour travail/études comme étudiant ou étudiante :La revue de droit d’OttawaRevue de droit & technologie de l’Université d’OttawaClinique d’intérêt public et de politique d’internet du CanadaInternatsPro bonoClinique juridiqueDean’s Legal Research and Writing Fellowship (en anglais)Answers from one of my students after completion of 1st year:-why do you think legal research instruction is important?Legal research instruction was important to me because coming into law school I had no idea how cases were documented and stored, or where to find scholarly legal articles. The legal research course introduced me to legal research concepts, taught me what was out there and where to find it.-how has legal research training helped you throughout your first year?The legal research training helped me research and write my papers for my small group, and also helped me complete citation assignments in my small group. It also helped me gain a position on the Law Review; the application includes a citation exercise that I wouldn't have been able to complete without the legal research training.-how has legal research training helped you after first year (e.g. RA position, summer articling, etc.)In addition to gaining a position on the Law Review, the legal research training helped me in work as an RA. I was hired as an RA for one of my professors during my second semester of first year and also during the summer after first year. The legal research instruction gave me the confidence and ability to effectively research in the role. Because of the legal research instruction, I was able to get right down to the research without having to familiarize myself with the research tools on top of conducting the research itself.

9 Le site web de la Bibliothèque de droit Brian-DicksonLe catalogue en brefFAQs about the library?-how many books to borrow? For how long? How to renew?-Search the catalogue – define what the catalogue includes; focus on the Reserve section only-remember to point out examples of legal writing on reserve: Course code CML 1111 and CML1223 (case comments)

13 La méthodologie de recherche juridiqueBut you will learn the most efficient routes once you’re comfortable with the research tools.Usually not fast or easyTakes careful planning, persistence and patienceRequires big picture and detailed approachesYour approach will differ depending on the TYPE of legal research question

14 La recherche juridique est distincte d’autres domaines de rechercheIl faut que vous soyez :Conscient\e des diverses ressources juridiques disponibles;Familier\ère avec les diverses ressources pour repérer des documents et avec les techniques de recherche;Capable de repérer de l’autorité primaire, ainsi que les sources secondaires; etCertain\e que votre recherche est à jour.-is it binding or persuasive?To many law students, legal research presents a challenge because it differs in many ways from the research they may have conducted as undergraduates. It is essential to establish a clear understanding of the goals of research in the legal context, and of the various types of legal materials and their interrelationships.An initial step in developing legal research expertise is to develop an awareness of the types of materials that constitute "the law," and of the relationships between these materials. In the process of researching a legal issue, it may be necessary to consult statutes (legislative enactments), cases (opinions of the judiciary), and/or regulatory materials (administrative agency regulations and decisions). All these types of materials are considered "primary sources."A major challenge for a novice researcher is to gain a perspective on how such sources may apply to a particular subject matter and how they relate to each other. It is often necessary to consult multiple sources and use different techniques for each type of source. Furthermore, for a given problem relevant materials may exist on any or all of the federal, provincial or municipal levels.A major area in which legal research differs from research a student may previously have conducted is in the need for comprehensiveness in primary authority research. When presented with a legal issue, the researcher must endeavor to locate any potentially relevant authority which would be binding in the applicable jurisdiction. Most importantfor the beginning researcher to appreciate is that cases or statutory provisions which seem not to favor a client's position cannot simply be ignored and other authorities relied upon instead. Rather, these sources must be discovered, thoroughly analyzed, and distinguished if possible.Because law is organic, the legal researcher must also learn to appreciate the need to update and verify every source upon which (s)he intends to rely in developing a legal argument. For example, the precedential value of cases is frequently affected by subsequent judicial analysis or by the actions of legislatures. Likewise, it is not unusual for statutes to be repealed or amended by the legislative body; statutes may also be applied and interpreted by case law. The researcher must update carefully in order to accurately assess the significance of any authority. Another matter which often challenges beginning legal researchers, is the need to analogize. For many of the problems you may be asked to research, no precisely “on point” - meaning factually identical - authority exists. Judges decide disputes before them, and lawyers build arguments, based on a reasoning process which analogizes that a rule of law applied to one set of facts should logically be applied to another set of factual circumstances. Thus it is rarely sufficient to look for authorities that deal with facts tooclosely resembling those which you have been presented.Source: Notes from Thurgood Marshall Law Library Guide to Legal Research

15 La recherche documentaireL’approche Google (Eureka!)L’approche WikipediaL’approche « je ne sais pas ce que je veux »Google approach: eureka! I found exactly what I was looking for; thank you, Google. Satisfaction very high! But REAL frustration if it’s not there.General info approach: I just want to know what the heck they’re talking about. No specifics, I don’t care if it’s right or if there are a couple of errors in it. Satisfaction average.I don’t know what I need: Satisfaction not so high. Satisfaction higher IF you have more knowledge about sources.

17 Version imprimée c. version électroniqueLes pour et les contre – qu’est-ce que vous en pensez?Dans le temps…RapiditéMise à jour de l’informationRecherche booléenne$$$From Sonia’s notes:Dans le temps…RapiditéMise à jour de l’information$$$Recherche booléenneThink – pair – sharePaper:-for legislation & case law, official version to bring to court, to citeAdvantages:-sometimes item may only exist in print! So no choice, really.-easy to browse – reduces eye strain-easier to approach a print source (just a book) compared to a huge database of informationDisadvantages:-Can be cumbersome, can take a long time, not always available (s.o. took it out; it’s too fragile)Electronic:Advantages-can be fast if you know what you’re looking for! Readily available if you have an Internet connection-material can be updated easily online-no space limitations usually-full-text searching – can search for the occurrence of a particular term or phrase within a case or a statute (this would be tedious to do in a print resource!)-easy to note up – update cases quickly and accurately-can be accessed by multiple users unlike a single copy of a volume of a print case law reporter-can be pricey – per search/per document fees-can be difficult to use – a lot of information, interface not always intuitive/user-friendly-tiresome to read documents online – usually have to print them

21 L’approche « FILAC » Facts Issues LawAnalysis/Application of law to factsCommunicationVoir Maureen Fitzgerald, Legal Problem Solving: Reasoning, Research and Writing, 3e éd., Toronto, Butterworths, 2004 aux pages 2 à 4.Based on the first letter of each of the steps; as described by Maureen Fitzgerald in Legal Problem Solving: Reasoning, Research and Writing, 3d ed. (Toronto: Butterworths, 2004) at 2-4.A similar legal research model:Analyze the facts and formulate a preliminary statement of issues.This is a continuous process. Be prepared to re-frame the issue(s) as your research progresses.Familiarize yourself with the court structure of the jurisdiction.It may be necessary to do background research to determine whether provincial or federal law applies.Conduct background research to get an overview of the subject area, identify issues and terms, and get clues to primary sources.Learn the types of authority involved, i.e. whether the issues are governed by case law, statutory law, administrative law or a combination. You may need to learn some of the “black letter law” to gain a context for your research. Secondary sources can be useful for this purpose.Search for legal authority using appropriate methods of updating.There are many different techniques for finding primary authorities. For any given research project, some will work better than others. Using a variety of tools will ensure comprehensive research and compensate for difficulties that one may encounter in using particular sources. Always look for pocket parts and other supplements when using print sources. Note the dates of coverage in all electronic sources consulted.Read and evaluate primary authorities.Never overlook the importance of reading cases and other authorities as you go along. Do not substitute reading of the headnotes, synopses or interpretations in secondary sources for your own thoughtful reading of the authorities you find. Look for holdings of cases, not just broad statements of the law.Make sure cases are still good law and you have the current version of statutes.Time can often be saved by using case validation tools (citators) as soon as you read a case and determine that it is relevant to your issue. Make sure you have checked all available supplements if using print sources. Look up statutes in electronic form to check for recent amendments.Refine analysis and formulate conclusion.Returning to secondary sources near the end of a research project can be helpful. These sources can be easier to understand after you have read some of the primary authorities.

22 L’approche « FILAC » Facts Issues LawBien déterminer les faits pertinents.Mais que fais-je si je ne sais rien sur le sujet???FactsIssuesLawAnalysis/Application of law to factsCommunicationBased on the first letter of each of the steps; as described by Maureen Fitzgerald in Legal Problem Solving: Reasoning, Research and Writing, 3d ed. (Toronto: Butterworths, 2004) at 2-4.A similar legal research model:Analyze the facts and formulate a preliminary statement of issues.This is a continuous process. Be prepared to re-frame the issue(s) as your research progresses.Familiarize yourself with the court structure of the jurisdiction.It may be necessary to do background research to determine whether provincial or federal law applies.Conduct background research to get an overview of the subject area, identify issues and terms, and get clues to primary sources.Learn the types of authority involved, i.e. whether the issues are governed by case law, statutory law, administrative law or a combination. You may need to learn some of the “black letter law” to gain a context for your research. Secondary sources can be useful for this purpose.Search for legal authority using appropriate methods of updating.There are many different techniques for finding primary authorities. For any given research project, some will work better than others. Using a variety of tools will ensure comprehensive research and compensate for difficulties that one may encounter in using particular sources. Always look for pocket parts and other supplements when using print sources. Note the dates of coverage in all electronic sources consulted.Read and evaluate primary authorities.Never overlook the importance of reading cases and other authorities as you go along. Do not substitute reading of the headnotes, synopses or interpretations in secondary sources for your own thoughtful reading of the authorities you find. Look for holdings of cases, not just broad statements of the law.Make sure cases are still good law and you have the current version of statutes.Time can often be saved by using case validation tools (citators) as soon as you read a case and determine that it is relevant to your issue. Make sure you have checked all available supplements if using print sources. Look up statutes in electronic form to check for recent amendments.Refine analysis and formulate conclusion.Returning to secondary sources near the end of a research project can be helpful. These sources can be easier to understand after you have read some of the primary authorities.

23 L’approche « FILAC » Issues Facts LawAnalysis/Application of law to factsCommunicationBien déterminer les sujets pertinents à rechercher. Ceux-ci seront basés sur les faits. Notez-les comme des questions auxquelles il faut répondre.Based on the first letter of each of the steps; as described by Maureen Fitzgerald in Legal Problem Solving: Reasoning, Research and Writing, 3d ed. (Toronto: Butterworths, 2004) at 2-4.A similar legal research model:Analyze the facts and formulate a preliminary statement of issues.This is a continuous process. Be prepared to re-frame the issue(s) as your research progresses.Familiarize yourself with the court structure of the jurisdiction.It may be necessary to do background research to determine whether provincial or federal law applies.Conduct background research to get an overview of the subject area, identify issues and terms, and get clues to primary sources.Learn the types of authority involved, i.e. whether the issues are governed by case law, statutory law, administrative law or a combination. You may need to learn some of the “black letter law” to gain a context for your research. Secondary sources can be useful for this purpose.Search for legal authority using appropriate methods of updating.There are many different techniques for finding primary authorities. For any given research project, some will work better than others. Using a variety of tools will ensure comprehensive research and compensate for difficulties that one may encounter in using particular sources. Always look for pocket parts and other supplements when using print sources. Note the dates of coverage in all electronic sources consulted.Read and evaluate primary authorities.Never overlook the importance of reading cases and other authorities as you go along. Do not substitute reading of the headnotes, synopses or interpretations in secondary sources for your own thoughtful reading of the authorities you find. Look for holdings of cases, not just broad statements of the law.Make sure cases are still good law and you have the current version of statutes.Time can often be saved by using case validation tools (citators) as soon as you read a case and determine that it is relevant to your issue. Make sure you have checked all available supplements if using print sources. Look up statutes in electronic form to check for recent amendments.Refine analysis and formulate conclusion.Returning to secondary sources near the end of a research project can be helpful. These sources can be easier to understand after you have read some of the primary authorities.

24 Quelles sont les lois pertinentes?L’approche « FILAC »FactsIssuesLawAnalysis/Application of law to factsCommunicationQuelles sont les lois pertinentes?Consultez des sources secondaires pour un aperçu du sujet.Déterminez les sources primaires.Based on the first letter of each of the steps; as described by Maureen Fitzgerald in Legal Problem Solving: Reasoning, Research and Writing, 3d ed. (Toronto: Butterworths, 2004) at 2-4.A similar legal research model:Analyze the facts and formulate a preliminary statement of issues.This is a continuous process. Be prepared to re-frame the issue(s) as your research progresses.Familiarize yourself with the court structure of the jurisdiction.It may be necessary to do background research to determine whether provincial or federal law applies.Conduct background research to get an overview of the subject area, identify issues and terms, and get clues to primary sources.Learn the types of authority involved, i.e. whether the issues are governed by case law, statutory law, administrative law or a combination. You may need to learn some of the “black letter law” to gain a context for your research. Secondary sources can be useful for this purpose.Search for legal authority using appropriate methods of updating.There are many different techniques for finding primary authorities. For any given research project, some will work better than others. Using a variety of tools will ensure comprehensive research and compensate for difficulties that one may encounter in using particular sources. Always look for pocket parts and other supplements when using print sources. Note the dates of coverage in all electronic sources consulted.Read and evaluate primary authorities.Never overlook the importance of reading cases and other authorities as you go along. Do not substitute reading of the headnotes, synopses or interpretations in secondary sources for your own thoughtful reading of the authorities you find. Look for holdings of cases, not just broad statements of the law.Make sure cases are still good law and you have the current version of statutes.Time can often be saved by using case validation tools (citators) as soon as you read a case and determine that it is relevant to your issue. Make sure you have checked all available supplements if using print sources. Look up statutes in electronic form to check for recent amendments.Refine analysis and formulate conclusion.Returning to secondary sources near the end of a research project can be helpful. These sources can be easier to understand after you have read some of the primary authorities.

25 L’approche « FILAC » Analysis/Application of law to facts Facts IssuesCommunicationDe la même manière dont un juge le ferait, analysez les faits à l’égard des lois ou principes de droit applicables.Based on the first letter of each of the steps; as described by Maureen Fitzgerald in Legal Problem Solving: Reasoning, Research and Writing, 3d ed. (Toronto: Butterworths, 2004) at 2-4.A similar legal research model:Analyze the facts and formulate a preliminary statement of issues.This is a continuous process. Be prepared to re-frame the issue(s) as your research progresses.Familiarize yourself with the court structure of the jurisdiction.It may be necessary to do background research to determine whether provincial or federal law applies.Conduct background research to get an overview of the subject area, identify issues and terms, and get clues to primary sources.Learn the types of authority involved, i.e. whether the issues are governed by case law, statutory law, administrative law or a combination. You may need to learn some of the “black letter law” to gain a context for your research. Secondary sources can be useful for this purpose.Search for legal authority using appropriate methods of updating.There are many different techniques for finding primary authorities. For any given research project, some will work better than others. Using a variety of tools will ensure comprehensive research and compensate for difficulties that one may encounter in using particular sources. Always look for pocket parts and other supplements when using print sources. Note the dates of coverage in all electronic sources consulted.Read and evaluate primary authorities.Never overlook the importance of reading cases and other authorities as you go along. Do not substitute reading of the headnotes, synopses or interpretations in secondary sources for your own thoughtful reading of the authorities you find. Look for holdings of cases, not just broad statements of the law.Make sure cases are still good law and you have the current version of statutes.Time can often be saved by using case validation tools (citators) as soon as you read a case and determine that it is relevant to your issue. Make sure you have checked all available supplements if using print sources. Look up statutes in electronic form to check for recent amendments.Refine analysis and formulate conclusion.Returning to secondary sources near the end of a research project can be helpful. These sources can be easier to understand after you have read some of the primary authorities.

26 L’approche « FILAC » Communication Facts Issues LawAnalysis/Application of law to factsCommunicationBased on the first letter of each of the steps; as described by Maureen Fitzgerald in Legal Problem Solving: Reasoning, Research and Writing, 3d ed. (Toronto: Butterworths, 2004) at 2-4.A similar legal research model:Analyze the facts and formulate a preliminary statement of issues.This is a continuous process. Be prepared to re-frame the issue(s) as your research progresses.Familiarize yourself with the court structure of the jurisdiction.It may be necessary to do background research to determine whether provincial or federal law applies.Conduct background research to get an overview of the subject area, identify issues and terms, and get clues to primary sources.Learn the types of authority involved, i.e. whether the issues are governed by case law, statutory law, administrative law or a combination. You may need to learn some of the “black letter law” to gain a context for your research. Secondary sources can be useful for this purpose.Search for legal authority using appropriate methods of updating.There are many different techniques for finding primary authorities. For any given research project, some will work better than others. Using a variety of tools will ensure comprehensive research and compensate for difficulties that one may encounter in using particular sources. Always look for pocket parts and other supplements when using print sources. Note the dates of coverage in all electronic sources consulted.Read and evaluate primary authorities.Never overlook the importance of reading cases and other authorities as you go along. Do not substitute reading of the headnotes, synopses or interpretations in secondary sources for your own thoughtful reading of the authorities you find. Look for holdings of cases, not just broad statements of the law.Make sure cases are still good law and you have the current version of statutes.Time can often be saved by using case validation tools (citators) as soon as you read a case and determine that it is relevant to your issue. Make sure you have checked all available supplements if using print sources. Look up statutes in electronic form to check for recent amendments.Refine analysis and formulate conclusion.Returning to secondary sources near the end of a research project can be helpful. These sources can be easier to understand after you have read some of the primary authorities.Communiquez vos conclusions à votre client d’une manière claire, précise et brève.

29 Des ressources électroniquesCartable avec la liste des rapports judiciaires et recueils de lois préparées par la Bibliothèque de droit Brian-DicksonCardiff Index to Legal AbbreviationsNote aussi la juridictionListe des abréviations juridiques (U de Montréal)Inclus les abréviations de QuicklawCependant, ignorer les cotes indiquées à côté de chaque titre!Brian Dickson Law Library binder: only covers law reports and statutes, NOT journalsAbout the Cardiff Index to Legal AbbreviationsLegal abbreviations can be a puzzle to both new students and experienced professionals. This web-based service allows you to search for the meaning of abbreviations for English language legal publications, from the British Isles, the Commonwealth and the United States, including those covering international and comparative law. A wide selection of major foreign language law publications is also included. Publications from over 295 jurisdictions are featured in the Index. The database mainly covers law reports and law periodicals, but some legislative publications and major textbooks are also included.